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NZ vs SL 3rd ODI Highlights: Sri Lanka Avoid Whitewash With Nissanka, Mendis 50s And Fernando’s Early Burst

Aakash Saini

Sri Lanka claimed a consolation win in the third ODI [Source: @ICC/x]Sri Lanka claimed a consolation win in the third ODI [Source: @ICC/x]

Sri Lanka claimed a consolation win over New Zealand in the third ODI at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday, January 11. Failing to secure a rare clean sweep, the hosts still walked away with a 2-1 series victory.

Here’s the timeline of how NZ vs SL panned out in Auckland:

NZ vs SL Highlights: Nissanka, Kusal Mendis Carve Calculated 50s At The Top

Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando stitched 66 runs together until the former retired himself off the field for a while due to an injury. Fernando, who scored 17 off 33 balls with a couple of boundaries at the time, was holed out by Michael Bracewell at deep midwicket off Nathan Smith in the 12th over of the innings.

Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis forged another 87 runs for the second wicket to steer Sri Lanka past the 150-run mark. Kusal notched up his 33rd ODI half-century while young Kamindu chipped in with a cautious 46 until both well-set batters were toppled by Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry respectively. Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka was done-in by Bracewell for a five-ball duck as a quick triple-wicket burst left the tourists reeling at 183-4.

NZ vs SL Highlights: Janith Liyanage Anchors Sri Lanka Amidst Tumbling Wickets

Pathum Nissanka returned to the crease and extended his innings to 66 from just 42 balls with five towering sixes. After the well-set Sri Lankan opener had his juggernaut halted by Mitchell Santner, Janith Liyanage at number six took over the run-scoring onus by cracking a near run-a-ball 53.

Liyanage steered Sri Lanka to a strong finish to counter Matt Henry’s four-wicket haul in the backend of the innings. The visitors eventually shaped a competitive 290-8 from their 50 overs.

NZ vs SL Highlights: New Zealand Crash To 21-5 In Big Pursuit

Sharing the new ball with seamer Asitha Fernando, Sri Lankan off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana engineered the opening breakthrough with an early wicket of Will Young for an eight-ball duck. Fernando pounced on the early momentum by picking up three wickets off his own with the new ball, which included the prized-scalp of Rachin Ravindra for just a single.

As part of his three-wicket burst, Fernando also got rid of Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips, both for ducks, as the Sri Lankan speedster claimed astonishing figures of 3-26 from his seven overs. Eshan Malinga and Janith Liyanage got the wickets of dangermen Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell respectively as the hosts slipped to 21-5, and eventually to 48-6 at one stage of the innings.

NZ vs SL Highlights: Mark Chapman Delays Inevitable With Fighting 81

Mark Chapman at number three raged on with a fighting 81 at run-a-ball to counter Sri Lanka’s new ball attack. The cricketer shared a swift 51-run partnership with number nine Nathan Smith (17 off 29) to attain some respectability for the hosts.

However, Chapman’s defiance merely delayed the inevitable as three-wicket hauls from Maheesh Theekshana (3-35) and Eshan Malinga (3-35) folded up the New Zealanders for just 150 in 29.4 overs to fall 140 runs short of their target.